Apparatus for dispensing heavy consistency fluid



Dec. 15, J. KOLLMAN ETAL APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING HEAVY CONSISTENCY FLUID Filed Dec. 30, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 z 3 z! lNvENToRs I JACK KOLLMAN #5 we a ARTHUR STORRIE Dec. 15, 1959 J. KOLLMAN ETAL APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING HEAVY CONSISTENCY FLUID Filed Dec. 30, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN-I mas JACK KOLLMAN ARTHUR 5102a":

lllllll Dec. 15, 1959 J. KOLLMAN ETAL 2,917,272

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING HEAVY CONSISTENCY FLUID Filed Dec. 30, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTORS JAcK KOLLMAN ARTHUR STORRIE v A TY.

United States Patent APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING HEAVY CONSISTENCY FLUID Jack Kollman and Arthur Storrie, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Kitchens of Sara Lee, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Maryland Application December 30, 1957, Serial No. 706,126

4 Claims. (Cl. 251-209) The invention relates to improvements in apparatus for supplying and applying a heavy-consistency fluid or like substance, such as icing, on bakery goods or other products or articles and is more particularly concerned with such an apparatus which includes a novel valve structure adapted to deposit such fluid uniformly on products of irregular outline which are successively advanced past the valve structure during operation of the appara- 1115.

The invention as disclosed herein in one of its embodiments comprises an apparatus including a movable conveyor bed upon which a succession of articles on which such fluid is to be deposited is continuously advanced during operation of the apparatus beneath a novelly constructed dispensing and measuring valve .operable to dispense such fluid, at auniform rate and preferably in the form of a ribbon, only while an article is passing therebeneath and in a pattern conforming to the outline configuration of such article. In the present disclosure, the article consists of a bakery product, such as a cake of octagonal configuration and as said product enters beneath the dispensing valve, the valve opens sufliciently to dispense a ribbon-like stream of fluid of a width corresponding to the length of the leading edge of the octagonal cake. As the cake continues to advance beneath the valve, said valve continues its opening movement to increase the width of the ribbon-like stream of fluid progressively in conformance to the progressive Widening of the advancing cake until it reaches the maximum opening corresponding to the greatest width at the medial portion of said cake. The valve remains fully opened while the medial portion of the greatest width passes therebeneath and its operation then is reversed so as to progressively close the valve to gradually reduce the width of the ribbon while the progressively narrowing trailing portion of the cake passes therebeneath. When the cake moves out from beneath the valve, the valve closes and it remains closed until the leading edge of the next succeeding cake advances therebeneath whereupon the cycle is repeated.

The valve structure in accordance with the present invention comprises a cylindrical housing within which is rotatably mounted a coaxial cylindrical valve element. The valve housing is provided with inlet and outlet openings for the viscous fluid to be dispensed by the valve structure, and the inner valve element is alsoprovided with inlet and outlet openings adapted to align with the respective openings in the housing when the valve element is rotated to predetermined positions with respect to the housing. That is, alignment of the inlet opening of the valve element with respect to the inlet opening of the housing permits fluid to flow into the hollow interior of the valve element, and alignment of the outlet opening of the valve element with respect to the outlet opening of the housing permits the fluid to be discharged from the valve structure and onto the cake passing therebeneath.

It has been discovered that if the respective inlet open- "ice as a fluid pressure equilibrium becomes established with-- in the valve structure. 7

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide a valve arrangement which effectively and reliably eliminates this transient phenomenon. This is accomplished in the present invention by a relatively simple structure which virtually assures that the alignment of the inlet openings will be so timed with respect to the alignment of the outlet openings that this transient surge does not occur. More specifically, we have discovered that the surge effect usually occurs if the inlet openings are aligned before the outlet openings come into communication. This enables the fluid pressure within the valve structure to build up to a value substantially equal to the pressure of the supply source. After the pressure within the valve structure is thus built up to a relatively high value, subsequent alignment of the outlet openings causes the fluid to spurt out therefrom at a high velocity. However, after this initial surge the discharge of fluid from the valve structure causes the fluid pressure therein to be reduced, whereupon the rate of fluid discharged from the outlet openings decreases markedly and thereby results in the non-uniform transient surge phenomenon.

We have discovered that this highly disadvantageous surge effect can be completely eliminated by the disclosed arrangement. In the subject invention, the inlet and outlet openings are circur'nferentially spaced and located so that the outlet openings come into alignment at a predetermined time interval before the inlet openings are aligned. Upon alignment of the outlet openings the residual fluid within the valve structure starts to flow outwardly toward the cake before the fluid pressure within the valve structure can build up to an excessively high' value. The inlet openings then come into alignment and the fluid flows into the valve structure from the supply source. However, since the outlet openings are already in alignment and in full open communication with each other, the internal fluid pressure within the valve structure does not build up to an excessive value which would cause any initial spurting effect. By properly timing the interval between alignment of the outlet openings and alignment of the inlet openings, a uniform rate of fluid discharge can be provided so as to eliminate the transient effect described above.

During the return closing movement of the valve element, the inlet openings will first be out of communica- The cylindrical coaxial arrangement of the valve ele ment and valve housing of the present invention enables the relative timing of the opening and closing of the inlet and outlet openings to be made fixed and definite without any necessity for adjustment by the operator and without any possibility of unreliable operation caused by relative displacement of adjustable parts which might affeet the timing cycle.

More specifically, the relative timing of the alignment of the openings is precisely fixed in the present invention because the locations of the inletopenings are at fixed definite circumferentially spaced dis tances from the respective outlet openings, and to achieve the proper timing it is merely necessary to rotate or oscillate the inner valve element at a predetermined angular velocity.

' The present valve structure has associated with it a heavy-consistency fluid, or icing, supply source arranged to deliver a continuous supply of fluid thereto under pressure. However, when the valve is closed momentarily as aforesaid, a relief valve in the fluid supply line operates to divert the flow back to its source. This prevents the icing in the supply line from setting, which would occur were its flow interrupted.

It is, "therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus embodying the novel structural and functional characteristics outlined above.

Another object is to provide a novelly constructed valve.

Another object of the invention is to provide a'valve structure operable to dispense a heavy-consistency fluid in a ribbon-like stream over an area of predetermined size and configuration.

Another object is'to provide a dispensing and measuring valve structure with a novelly constructed oscillatably rotatable valveelement therein.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of our invention, we have illustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, our invention, its mode of construction, assembly and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

Referring to the drawings in which the same characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawlugs:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a portion of the apparatus showing a plurality of trays, each carrying articles to be coated, positioned beneath the novel valve structure.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken transversely of the apparatus substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of thevalve structure, taken substantially on line 33 of Fig.2, showing conventional drive means associated therewith.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view, partly in perspective, showing the supply system for the heavy consistency fluid or like substance which is delivered to the valve.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of the novel valve structure, taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 2, showing the valve partially opened.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the valve element.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 7-7 of Fig. 2, and shows the valve structure in its initial fully closed condition.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but shows the valve element rotated to a position where the outlet openings are in alignment and the inlet openings are still closed.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Figs. 7 and 8 but shows the inlet Openings as well as the outlet openings in fully communicative alignment.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention disclosed in the accompanying drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the apparatus includes a suitable frame structure, generally indicated at 11, which includes verti- 2,917,273 p v y I 4 cally disposed uprights or legs'12 and transverse tie bars 13 (only one shown). The frame structure may be of any convenient length and the upper extremities of the legs 12 are suitably connected by longitudinal stringers 14. The frame carries a movable bed or endless con veyor 15 trained in a conventional manner at the ends of said frame over sprockets 16 mounted firmly on transverse shafts 17 (only one shown) which shafts are journaled at their ends in suitable bearings 18 mounted securely on and depending from the stringers 14. One of the shafts 17, in this instance the one illustratedin Fig. 2, extends outwardly of one of its bearings 18 and has firmly secured thereto a sprocket 19 over which is trained a chain 21 operatively connected to a suitable source of power (not shown) so as to operate to rotate the shaft 17 and move the endless conveyor 15 longitudinally of the frame 11 in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1.

During operation of the endless conveyor 15 an unending stream of trays 22 is carried thereby. Each of these trays has arranged thereon, in two longitudinal rows, a plurality of pans 23 each containing a bakery product, such as a cake 24. It should be noted at this time that the trays 22 on the endless conveyor are in substantial abutment one with the other and that there is a sufiicient number of pans 23 on each tray to insure that there is a continuous succession of pans 23 with a substantially uniform space or gap 25 between each pan.

As has been indicated hereinabove, the present apparatus is intended for use for applying a layer of heavy consistency fluid, such as icing, to each of the cakes 24 while said cakes are advancing longitudinally of the apparatus. In order to accomplish this, a valve structure generally indicated at 26 is arranged transversely of the endless conveyor 15 and is suitably spaced thereabove to permit the pans 23 to pass therebeneath.

The valve structure includes an elongated housing 27 (see Fig. 5) having an internal bore 28 therein co-extensive with its length and it is closed at its ends by suitable plugs or caps 29 each having an axial bearing opening 31 therein to receive for free rotation therethrough axial stud shafts 32 and 32a secured to the ends of a hollow cylindrical valve element 33. The valve element 33 includes a cylindrical wall 34 of a length corresponding substantially to the length of the bore 28 and it is closed at its ends by end walls 35 which may be welded thereto and which have formed integral therewith the shafts 32 and 32a respectively. When the valve structure 26 is arranged transversely of the frame 11 above the endless conveyor 15, its'stud shaft 32 is journaled in an upstanding bearing 36 on one of the stringers 1.4 and its other shaft 32a is journaled in a similar bearing 37 mounted on the'other stringer 14.

The shaft 32a protrudes beyond the bearing 37 and, as best shown in Figs. 1-3, it carries on its end a pinion 38 which meshes at all times with a gear segment 39 pivotally mounted at 41. The segment 39 has a radial arm 42 projecting beyond its circumference and to which is connected, as at 43, an operating link 44. The link 44 is adapted during machine operation to be reciprocated in a manner to be described presently so as to oscillatably rotate the valve element 33 within the bore 28. Oscillatable rotation of the valve element 33 opens and closes the valve structure so that heavy consistency fluid delivered to the valve structure is intermittently discharged or dispensed in the form of a ribbon which is deposited on thetop surface of a cake 24 as the latter passes therebeneath. In order to accomplish this, the valve structure is of unusual construction primarily because of the octagonal shape of the pans 23 containing the cakes to be coated with icing.

Referring particularly to the detailed disclosure of the valve structure in Figs. 5 to 9, it will be observed that the housing 27 has a pair of longitudinally aligned dispensing slots 45 in its bottom wall portion. These slots are each 91 Q length corresponding substantially to the greatest width of the cakes 24 which pass therebeneath in vertical alignment therewith. The housing 27 is also provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced inlet openings 46 each of which is connected, as by means of a conduit 47 with a source of fluid supply. Any suitable structure may be provided to hold the housing 27 against axial rotation. In the present disclosure this is accomplished by the conduits 47. The oscillatably rotatable valve element 33 is provided in its wall with slotted openings 48 spaced apart longitudinally so as to be capable of registering with the inlet openings 46.

Portions of the wall 34 of the valve element 33 are cut away to provide longitudinally elongated discharge openings 49, each of which is to cooperate with the related dispensing slot 45 for opening and closing said slots in a manner to permit dispensing of the requisite quantity of heavy consistency fluid over the top surface of each cake 24 passing therebeneath and to dispense such fluid at no other times and over no other areas. In order to accomplish this, each of the elongated openings 49 has a straight circumferential edge 51 at each end and the circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending edges 52 and 52a of each opening terminate short of the related end edges 51 and are connected thereto by angularly inclined edges 53. The configuration of each opening 49 is thus made to correspond substantially to the octagonal configuration of the cake 24. It will be noted that the shape of the edge 52a of each opening 49 and the two angularly inclined edges 53 associated with each edge 52a, has no particular function. That is, the particular shape of edge 52a and its associated edges 53 is merely the result of the milling operation which cuts out the openings 49 in such a manner as to provide the desired functional shape to the edges 52 and the two edges 53 adjoining each of the latter.

When valve element 33 is in its initial position shown in Fig. 7 the leading edge 52 of each opening 49 is located to the right of the dispensing or outlet opening 45. When valve element 33 is rotated in a clockwise direction through a predetermined angular displacement to the position shown in Fig. 8, by means to be described below, each outlet opening 49 of valve element 33 comes into alignment with the corresponding outlet opening 45. This causes the residual fluid within the interior of the valve structure to be discharged outwardly through the aligned outlet openings 45, 49 and downwardly onto the cake so as to form a layer thereon commencing at the leading edge of the cake. Continued clockwise rotation of valve element 33 eventually brings the inlet opening 48 of valve element 33 into communicative alignment with the inlet opening 46 of valve housing 27, as shown in Fig. 9, whereupon the fluid flows from the source of fluid supply into the interior of valve element 33 and housing 27. At about the time that the center of the cake passes beneath the outlet 45, valve element 33 is caused to commence rotation in the opposite counterclockwise direction back toward the position shown in Fig. 8. As a result, the inlet opening 48 of valve element 33 will move out of communicative alignment with respect to the inlet opening 46 of housing 27 while the outlet openings 45, 49 are still in communication. Continued counterclockwise rotation of valve element 33 eventually brings edge 52 to the right of outlet opening 45 as shown in Fig. 7.

As a result of the above described time sequence of opening and closing the inlet and outlet openings, we have eliminated any tendency to transient surging or spurting of the fluid, and the subject device functions to deposit upon the cake a fluid layer which is of substantially uniform thickness. The time sequence of the opening and closing of the inlet and outlet openings is fixed and predetermined by the relative circumferential spac ing of the openings. That is, by providing that the circumferential spacing between openings 48 and 49 is less than the circumferential spacing between openings 45 and 46 by a predetermined amount, the outlet openings 45, 49

will always come into communicative alignment a prede termined time interval before inlet openings 46, 48 come into communicative alignment. As a result, the time se-. quence of operation of the present invention is not de-' pendent upon the proper relation of any relatively adjustable parts, thereby providing greater uniformity and reliability in operation, more ease in set-up, and less difliculty and expense in maintenance.

Upon referring to Fig. 5 it will be observed that the edge 52 of the discharge opening 49 initially uncovers but the central portion of the slot 45. This uncovered portion of the slot 45 corresponds in length to the length of the leading edge of the octagonal cake advancing beneath the valve structure 26. The valve element 49 continues to rotate in a clockwise direction so that length of the slot 45 which is uncovered progressively increases at a rate and in accordance to the progressive increase in the width of the octagonal cake as it continues to ad-v vance beneath the valve structure. Such widening or lengthening of the opened area of the slot 45 continues until the valve element 33 has rotated a distance sufficient to carry the end edges 51 of the opening 49 in register with the ends of the slot 45, at which time a ribbon or stream of fluid .of maximum width is deposited on the widest portion of the cake passing therebeneath. The valve will continue to rotate clockwise until the center of the cake passes beneath the slot 45 whereupon the direction of rotation of the valve element is reversed, in a manner to be described presently, and when the cake has advanced sufficiently to bring the converging trailing edges thereof beneath the valve slot 45, the diverg-. ing edges 53 of the opening 49 again operate to progressively shorten the uncovered portion of the slot 45 and reduce the width of the fluid stream flowing therefrom to conform to the progressively reducing width of the cake. As the trailing edge of the cake passes beneath the slot 45, the edge 52 of the valve element opening 49 again moves forwardly of the slot 45 to close the same and the inlet opening 46 is then closed.

It should be quite evident at this time that the valve structure is such that heavy consistency fluid or the like is delivered to the products passing therebeneath and that all flow of such fluid is interrupted from the time when.

a product passes out from beneath the valve structure until the next succeeding product moves into position therebeneath, and that the pattern of the dispensed fluid conforms to the configuration of the products thus preventing the deposit of such fluid on the rims of the pans 23 or upon the trays carrying such pans and so eliminating all Waste.

Oscillatable rotation of the valve element 33 may be accomplished by any suitable means such as, for example, by the structure illustrated in Fig. 3. Referring to that figure, the operating link 44 extends downwardly from the radial arm 42 and may be provided on its end with a longitudinal slot 54 that operates on a trunnion 55 comprising the axis of a cam disc 56 suitably rotated through a conventional drive connection including a reduction gear box 57 and a motor 58 operably connected thereto. The cam disc 56 has an eccentric track 59 therein in which a stud 61 carried firmly on the link 44 operates. Because other suitable mechanical means may be provided to oscillatably rotate the valve element 33, applicant does not propose to limit the means for so operating said valve element to the specific construction shown for purposes of illustration only.

In order to maintain a constant flow of heavy consistency fluid from a supply source to the dispensing valve structure 26, means is provided in the form of a supply container 62 (Fig. 4) having a constantly driven pump 63, operated by a motor 64, provided in the main feed line 65 leading from the bottom of the container 62. The feed line'or conduit 65 is connected to a pres sure relief valve 66 with which both of the conduits 47 are connected; When inlet openings 47, 48 are in com municative alignment, .said fluid willflow through the conduit'65 and conduits 47 thereto. 'However, when the valve element 33. isrin position toclose the inlet openings,-.the relief valve 66 functions to .direct the flow of fluid in .theconduit 65 through a return conduit 67 from which it is deposited in the container 62.

Although the present disclosure and description are specifically concerned with the application of icing on cakes or the like having an octagonal shape, it should be quite evident that said apparatus and valve structure may be used to deposit any flowable substance on products having other irregular configurations, in which instance the shape of the openings 49 in the valve element 33 is varied in accordance with the configuration to be coated. Furthermore, the valve structure can be constructed to dispense fluid simultaneously on two rows of products, as shown, or it may be made to supply fluid to a single row or to any multiple of rows by increasing or decreasing the number of flow openings therein.

It isbelieved that our invention, its mode of construction and assembly, and many of its advantages should be readily understood from the foregoing without further description, and it should also be manifest that while a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described for illustrative purposes, the structural details are nevertheless capable of Wide variations within the purview of ourinvention as defined in the appended claims.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A valve structure comprising a hollow valve housing having a substantiallycylindrical internal surface, a hollow valve element within said housing, said valve element having a substantially cylindrical external surface coaxial with and in substantially sealing engagement with said housing cylindrical internal surface, said valve element being mounted for angular displacement about the common axis of said cylindrical surfaces, said housing having an elongated outlet opening extending along the bottom thereof and communicating between the interior and exterior thereof, said housing having an inlet opening communicating between the interior and exterior thereof and spaced a first predetermined distance from said outlet opening, said valve element having an elongated outlet opening communicating between the interior and exterior thereof, said valve element having an inlet opening communicating between the interior and exterior thereof and spaced a second predetermined distance from said valve element outlet opening, said two inlet openings each having at least a respective portion thereof lying in a common plane transverse to said axis, said first predetermined distance being greater than said second predetermined distance whereby as the valve element is angularly displaced within the housing said valve element outlet opening will come into communicative alignment with said housing outlet opening before said valve element inlet opening comes into communicative alignment with said housing inlet opening, and automatic means for cyclically angularly displacing said valve element, said last-recited means including means for automatically controlling and predetermining the angular velocity of said valve element.

2. A valve structure comprising a hollow valve housing having a substantially cylindrical internal surface, a hollow valve element within said housing, said valve element having a substantially cylindrical external surface coaxial with and in "substantially sealing engagement with said housing cylindrical internal surface, said valve element being mounted for angular displacement about the common axis of said cylindrical surfaces, said housing having an elongated outlet opening extending along the bottom thereof and communicating between the interior and exterior thereof, said housing having an inlet opening communicating between the interior and exterior thereof and spaced a first predetermined distance from said outlet opening, said valve element-having an elongated outletopening communicating between the interior and exterior thereof, said valve element outlet opening having contoured edge means for: progressively opening and closing varying lengths of said housing outlet opening as said valve element isangularly displaced within said housing, said valve element having an inlet opening communicating between the interior and exterior thereof and spaced a second predetermined distance from said valve element outlet opening, said two inlet openings each having at least a respective portion thereof lying in a common plane transverse to said axis, said first predetermined distance being greater than said second predetermined distance whereby as the valve element is angularly displaced within the housing said valve element outlet opening will come into communicative alignment with said housing outlet opening before said valve element inlet opening comes into communicative alignment with said housing inlet opening,

3. A valve structure comprising a hollow valve housing having a substantially cylindrical internal surface, a hollow valve element within saidhousing, said valve element having a substantially cylindrical external surface coaxial with and in substantially sealing engagement with said housing cylindrical internal surface, said valve element being mounted for angular displacement about the common axis of said cylindrical surfaces, said housing having an elongated outlet opening extending along the bottom thereof and communicating between the interior and exterior thereof, said housing having an inlet opening communicating between the interior and exterior thereof and spaced from said outlet opening a'firstpredetermined distance measured circumferentially around said surfaces in one direction, said valve element having an elongated outlet opening communicating between the interior and exterior thereof, said valve element having an inlet opening communicating between the interior and exterior thereof and spaced from said valve element outlet opening a second predetermined circumferential distance measured in the same direction as said first distance, said two inlet openings each having at least arespective portion thereof lying in a common plane trans-. verse to said axis, said first predetermined distance being greater than said second predetermined distance whereby as the valve element is angularly displaced in said one direction within the housing said valve element outlet opening will come into communicative alignment with said housing outlet opening before said valve element inlet opening comes into communicative alignment with said housing inlet opening, and automatic means for cyclically angularly displacing said valve element, said last-recited means including means for automatically controlling and predetermining the angular velocity of said valve element.

4. A valve structure comprising a hollow valve housing having a substantially cylindrical wall, a hollow valve element within said housing, said valve element having a substantially cylindrical wall coaxial with and in substantially sealing engagement with said housing cylindrical wall, said valve element being mounted for angular displacement about the common axis of said cylindrical walls, said housing wall having an elongated outlet opening extending therethrough along the bottom thereof, said housing wall having an inlet opening extending therethrough and spaced from said outlet opening a first predetermined distance measured circumferentially around said housing wall, said valve element wall having an elongated outlet opening extending therethrough, said valve element outlet opening having contoured edge means for progressively opening and closing varying lengths of said housing outlet opening as said valve element rotates within said housing, said valve element wall having an inlet opening extending therethrough and spaced from said valve element outlet opening a;sec-' 0nd predetermined circumferential distance, said two inlet openings each having at least a respective portion thereof lying in a common plane transverse to said axis, said first predetermined distance being greater than said second predetermined distance whereby as the valve element is angularly displaced within the housing said valve element outlet opening will come into communicative alignment with said housing outlet opening before said valve element inlet opening comes into communicative alignment with said housing inlet opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Ivor Sept. 26, Hollstein May 12, Legler Dec. 21, Triolo Dec. 6, Schmied Oct. 14, 

